CQUniversity Unit Profile
COIT20275 Systems Science and Engineering
Systems Science and Engineering
All details in this unit profile for COIT20275 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In this unit you are introduced to the discipline of Systems Engineering, and how Systems Engineering is positioned within the broader context of Systems Science. While a major emphasis is the Systems Engineering lifecycle and the benefits that arise from adopting a lifecycle perspective to system design, key design attributes (usability, reliability, maintainability and sustainability) and their integration into the overall lifecycle are also discussed. Management issues (baselines, testing, configuration management, development methodologies and standards) are addressed.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Co-requisite: BUSN20016 Research in Business.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2021

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit Coordinator reflection

Feedback

The learning outcomes focus on specific aspects of the systems engineering lifecycle, leaving little scope for broader aspects of systems science to be covered

Recommendation

Review learning outcomes and unit content to ensure sufficient coverage of systems science

Feedback from Tertiary Education Division and Course Committee

Feedback

Is an exam essential for the unit?

Recommendation

Review the assessment regime to identify an appropriate end of term assessment item

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Use systems thinking and a lifecycle approach to analyse and devise solutions for complex problems
  2. Critically review the key management activities that underpin Systems Engineering projects
  3. Justify the use of the top-down, stakeholder focused, lifecycle driven approach that characterises the Systems Engineering process
  4. Critically review the key engineering activities that underpin Systems Engineering projects.

N/A

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 40%
3 - Written Assessment - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 40%
3 - Written Assessment - 30%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Systems Engineering Practice

Revised Edition (2018) (2018)
Authors: M.J. Ryan and I. Faulconbridge
Argos Press
Canberra Canberra , ACT , Australia
ISBN: 978-1-921138-07-2
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

Copies can be purchased from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • MS Office
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Lily Li Unit Coordinator
l.li@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 12 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

The systems landscape

Chapter

Textbook: Chapter 1

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 19 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Introduction to systems engineering

Chapter

Textbook: Chapter 1

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 26 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Requirements engineering

Chapter

Textbook: Chapter 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 02 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Conceptual design

Chapter

Textbook: Chapter 3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 09 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Preliminary design

Chapter

Textbook: Chapter 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 16 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 23 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Detailed design and development

Construction/production

Chapter

Textbook: Chapters 5 & 6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit assignment 1


Written Assessment Due: Week 6 Friday (27 Aug 2021) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 30 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Operational use and system support

Testing

Chapter

Textbook: Chapters 7 & 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Development approaches

Chapter

Textbook: Chapter 11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Design for usability

Chapter

Online materials

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Design for reliability and maintainability

Chapter

Online materials

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Producibility, disposability and sustainability

Model-based systems engineering

Chapter

Online materials

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit assignment 2


Written Assessment Due: Week 11 Friday (1 Oct 2021) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 04 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Systems engineering management

Systems engineering standards

Model-based systems engineering

Chapter

Textbook: Chapters 8 & 9

Online materials

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 18 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit assignment 3


Written Assessment Due: Exam Week Wednesday (20 Oct 2021) 11:59 pm AEST
Term Specific Information

Unit Coordinator: Dr Lily Li

Email: l.li@cqu.edu.au

Phone: (+61) 7 4923 2267

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment

Task Description

In this group assessment, you are required to write a 2000-word report that critically analyses the conceptual design phase of a systems engineering project. Your report should address the stakeholders' needs and the system requirements. The topic and details for this assessment will be available on the unit website in Week 1.

The group must consist of 3 students. The size may be adjusted by the tutor depending on the class size.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Friday (27 Aug 2021) 11:59 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Friday (10 Sept 2021)

Results and feedback will be returned to the students within two weeks after the submission


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria are as follows (total marks: 60; weighting: 30%):

  1. Introduction (5 marks)
  2. Stakeholder needs (10 marks)
  3. Conceptual design process (15 marks)
  4. System requirements (15 marks)
  5. Conclusion (5 marks)
  6. Research skills including referencing (5 marks)
  7. Writing skills and presentation and teamwork (5 marks)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Use systems thinking and a lifecycle approach to analyse and devise solutions for complex problems


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment

Task Description

In this group assignment, you are required to write a 2000-word report that critically reviews a DfX methodology of your choosing. The topic and details for this assessment are available on the unit website. Please note this is a general review of methodologies. You may or may not use the same case study from your previous assessment.


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Friday (1 Oct 2021) 11:59 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Friday (15 Oct 2021)

Results and feedback will be returned to the students within two weeks after the submission


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria are as follows (total marks: 80; weighting: 40%):

  1. Introduction (5 marks)
  2. Overview of the methodology (purpose, inputs, outputs, staging in the life cycle, supporting processes) (20 marks)
  3. Discussion of
    • Guidelines (10 marks)
    • Tools/approaches/methods (15 marks)
    • Metrics (15 marks)
  4. Conclusion (5 marks)
  5. Research skills (5 marks)
  6. Writing skills and presentation (5 marks)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critically review the key management activities that underpin Systems Engineering projects
  • Justify the use of the top-down, stakeholder focused, lifecycle driven approach that characterises the Systems Engineering process


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment

Task Description

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is an approach to address multi-disciplinary and distributed systems engineering. The growing system complexity requires new methods to keep costs, time and quality under control. In this assignment, you are required to create a short annotated bibliography on MBSE. You should annotate at least 3 articles from international journals. The word limit is around 1,500. You may or may not use the references and the case studies from your previous assessments. The topic and details for this assessment are available on the unit website.


Assessment Due Date

Exam Week Wednesday (20 Oct 2021) 11:59 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

On certification day


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria are as follows (total marks: 60; weighting: 30%):

  1. Introduction (5 marks)
  2. Annotations (3 references) (45 marks)
    • Description (15 marks)
    • Explanation (15 marks)
    • Evaluation (15 marks)
  3. Conclusion (5 marks)
  4. Writing skills and presentation (5 marks)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Each student needs to submit this assessment

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Use systems thinking and a lifecycle approach to analyse and devise solutions for complex problems
  • Critically review the key engineering activities that underpin Systems Engineering projects.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?